Association between diabetic patients’ satisfaction with local medical services and experiences of unmet healthcare needs

BACKGROUND: Unmet healthcare needs reflect timely access to medical care perceived to be required by an individual. This study investigated the association between the unmet healthcare needs and satisfaction with local medical services in patients with diabetes. METHODS: Data from the 2023 Korea Community Health Survey were used. Descriptive statistics were measured using a chi-squared test. The association between the likelihood of unmet healthcare needs and patient satisfaction with local medical services was analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 23,822 participants diagnosed with diabetes, 1,141 (4.7%) reported unmet healthcare needs. A total of 18,198 (80.6%) individuals were satisfied with local medical services. Compared to those satisfied with local medical services, those unsatisfied were more likely to experience unmet needs (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.41–1.94). CONCLUSIONS: Unmet healthcare needs were associated with patient satisfaction with local medical services. This suggests the importance of addressing this association, considering its potential correlation with health outcomes and disease burden.